Car-coupling.



PATBNTED ABR. 26, 1904.9

A. A. MOSS. GAR' COUP-LING.

Arruonmn FILED mw1 so, umaA N0 MODEL.

germ/1405@ Navsaees.

UNITED 'STATESFPATENT OEEICE.

Patented April 26, 1904. n

ALBERT AUGUSTUS Moss, OENEWAEK, NEW JERSEY.'

CAR-COUPLlNc-r..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,268, dated April 26, 1904.

Application filed November 30, 1903.` Serial No. 183,218. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern: l

Beit known that I, ALBERT AUGUSTUS Moss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Car-Coupler, of which the following is a speciication. i

This invention relates to car-couplers of that general class shown in United States Letters Patent granted to me on the 2d day of July, 1901, under No. 677 ,366.

The object of the invention is to improve, simplify, and strengthen the construction of this class of couplers and to provide means for automatically locking the pivoted jaw in its closed or coupled position and means for opening said jaw when the lock is released.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for retaining the lock in its inoperative position and to provide a iexible connection between the pivoted jaw and the lock-V ing means, so that whenv said jaw is swung outwardly it will automatically release the locking means, causing the latter to stand inv the path of the pivoted jaw and iu a position to automatically engage and lock said jaw as the same is closed.

A still further object is to provide a common operating-lever for setting and releasing the locking-dog and for automatically opening the pivoted jawafter said dog has been released. Y i

With these and other objects in view the inven'tion consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of'construction may be resorted -to without departing from the principle or Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the locking pin or dog detached. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the position ot' the locking-pin when set or in the inoperative position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor responding parts in all the figures of the draw- The side wall of the recess or chamber 2 'opposite the fixed jaw 4i is provided with a longitudinal strengthening-rib 7, which extends from the shank or draw-bar 8 to the front end of said chamber, the terminal portion of the rib being concaved,- as shown at 9, to permit free pivotal action of the jaw or knuckle 6 when coupling or uncoupling. The jaw or knuckle 6 comprises the outer and Ainner angularly-related arms 10and 11, the arm 11 or' which is bifurcated to form apair ofspaced parallel arms 12 and' 13, said arms being provided with alined openings 14 for the reception of a coupling-pin when the draw-head is connected t0 an ordinary link-and-pin coupler. The

arms 12 and 13 are formed with terminal hooks 15, adapted to engage a vertically-disposed rib or s houlder 16 on the side Wall of the chamber 2 when the knuckle 6 is closed, the bifurcation in the knuckle permitting the latter to clear the rib 7 as said jaw or knuckle is swunginwardly.

. The rear side of the 'arm ot the pivotedl yknuckle 6 is cutaway to form an inclined 12 and 13 of the knu'ckle 6 when said knuckle is closed, thereby securely locking the same in the closed position.

Arranged within the chamber 2 at a point adjacent the cam or dog andfpreferably cast integral with the draw-headis an inclined rib or track 21, upon which the dog or cam 16b travels when a rearward pull is exerted on the latter, causing said dog in its upward movement to make a partial' rotation and engage and lock the pivoted knuckle, as will be readily understood. The rib or track 21 is provided with a rearwardly-inclined shoulder 22, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,) adapted to form a seat or rest for the dog 16b and retain the same out of operative relation with the pivoted knuckle when desired, said shoulder also forming a means for setting the locking cam or dog, as will be more fully eX- plained hereinafter.

The base of the dog 16b is provided with a tapering recess 22', the inclination ofwhich corresponds to the inclination of the shoulder 22, so that when the dog is resting on the shoulder said dog is prevented from being accidentally displaced by any sudden jar or movement of the cars incident to coupling or uncoupling. y y

A recess 23 is formed in the upper arm 12 of the pivoted knuckle 6, and secured therein in any suitable manner, as by a staple 24, is a chain or otherV iieXible medium 25, the opposite end of which is fastened to a similar staple 26,preferably secured to the lip 19 of the locking dog or cam, so that when the dog or cam is set or resting on the shoulder 22 and the knuckle 6 opened it will release the dog and cause it to drop in a position to engage and automatically lock the knuckle when the cars are again coupled.

As a means for opening the pivoted knuckle 6 I provide a lever 27, one end of which is pivoted between apair of upwardly-extend# ing lugs or ears 28, preferably formed integral with the draw-head, the opposite end of the lever extending in the path of the pivoted knuckle and engaging ashoulder' or recess 29 inthe end of thearm 12. Secured to the lever 27 is one end of a chain or cable 30, the.y

ispivoted in a recess 33 in the locking cam` or dog 1Gb, the opposite end thereof being secured to the chain 30, so that by operating the shaft 32 the lock may be set or caused to engage the shoulder 22 of the inclined rib or track.

In some cases the locking-shoulder 22 may means of a toothed cone 32 on the lever 32,

which engages a-correspondingly-shaped bearing 32z when the lever 32 1s moved longltudinally, said lever permitting the dog to drop as soon as the cone 32 is withdrawn from its bearing, as will be readily understood.

rIhe arms 12 and 13 of the pivoted knuckle 6 are provided with upwardly-projecting lugs 34, which lit in correspondingly shaped grooves or recesses 35, formed in the upper and lower walls of the`A chamber 2 when the knuckle 6 is closed and engage lugs or ears 35 on the fixed jaw 3 when said knuckle is open and serve to relieve the pivot-pin of a portion of the strain incident to coupling or uncoupling and drawing the cars.

The knuckle 6 is recessed, as shown at 352, to accommodate the lugs or ears 35', said lugs engaging the' inner wall of the recesses when the knuckle is closed, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In order to permit free lateral movement of the draw-head in traveling around curves, I

provide a pair of centering-springs 36, mounted one. on eachside of the shank 8, said springs being housed in suitable boxes 38, secured to the draft-timber or other portion of the car.

From the foregoing description the construction of my device will be readily understood, and the operation thereof may be briefly described as follows: The coupler being in the -locked position, the shaft 32 is operated to pull upwardly on the chain or cable, whereby the dog or cam is swung upwardly and rearwardly by traveling over the inclined rib or track 21 until it engages the shoulder 22, when the dog or cam will be set. When the dog or cam is in this position, the vertical lip 19 thereof will be disengaged from the knuckle and a further movement of the shaft 32 will cause the lever 27 to force the pivoted jaw open, said jaw pulling on the chain 25 in its outward movement, releasing the dog or cam and causing it to drop to the bottom of the chamber 2 and in a position to automatic' ally engage and lock the jaw when the coupling is again operated. When two couplers are brought together, each knuckle is forced inwardly, whereby the cam-flange 16a engages beneath the projection 18 of the locking-dog, swinging the latter rearwardly and also elevating the same until the knuckle swings clear of the dog, when thelatter will automatically swing into its normal position and in locked engagement with the free end of the knuckle.

It will be observed by having the shoulder 22 on the inclined track the dog or cam is held out ofv engagement with the knuckle, permitting the lever 27 to open the same, the forward or outward movement of the jaw automatically returning the dog to its normal position.

If desired, the chain 25, instead of being IOO IIO

end of which isadapted to swing into and outA of said recess, a vertically-sliding dog pivoted within the chamber or recess yand provided` with a locking-lip adapted to engage the knuckle, and a flexible connection between the knuckle and the locking-lip of said dog.

2. In a car-coupler of the class described, the

combination of a draw-head having a recess or chamber provided with ,a vertically-dise posed rib, of a pivoted angular knuckle having' terminal hooks adapted to engage said rib, avertically-sliding locking-dog pivoted within the recess and adapted to engage the knuc kle, means for setting the locking-dog, means for opening the knuckle and a `flexible connection between the rear end of rthe knuckle and the locking-dog. l 3. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination of a draw-head having a recess or chamber provided with an inclined track, of a pivoted angular knuckle, one end of which is adapted to swing into and out of said recess, a locking-dog pivoted Within the recess and slidable on the track for engagement with the knuckle, an inclined shoulder on the track for holding the locking-dog out of engagement with the knuckle and a liexible connection between said knuckle and locking-dog.

4:. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination of a draw-head having a recess or chamber, a pivoted angular knuckle, one end of which is adapted to swing into and Vout of said recess, a vertically-sliding dog pivoted within the recess and provid ed with a lockinglip adapted to engage the knuckle, a kicking device for opening the knuckle, a iiexible connection-'between the knuckle and the lockinglip of the dog and a single lever for setting said sliding dog and operating the kicking device.

5. In a car-coupler of the class described the combination of a draw-,head having a re-A cess or chamber provided with a longitudinal strengthening-rib and a laterally-disposed projection, a pivoted angular knuckle adapted to swing into and out of said recess, said knuckle being provided with terminal hooks adapted to engage the lateral projection, a verticallysliding locking-dog pivoted within the recess and adapted to engage the knuckle, means for setting the llocking-dog, and a flexible connection between the locking-dog and the knuckle.

6. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination of a draw-head having a recess or chamber, of a pivoted angular knuckle provided With coincident notches or recesses adapted to swing into and out of said recess or chamber, a vertically-sliding locking-dog pivoted within the recess and adapted to engage the notches in the knuckle for locking the' same in the closed position, meansgfor throwing the locking-dog out of engagement with the knuckle, means for opening the knuckle, and a flexible connection between the knuckle and the locking-dog;

. 7. In a car-coupler oi the class described, the combination with'a draw-head having aV recessor chamber the upper and lower walls of which are grooved or recessed, of a pivoted angular knuckle, provided with oppositelydisposed lugs adapted to engage said grooves, a vertically-sliding locking-dog pivoted Withlin the recess yand adaptedl to engage the knuckle, means for holding the locking-dog out of operablev relation with the knuckle and -means for automatically resetting said dog when the knuckle is opened.

v 8. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination with a draw-head. having a recess or chamber,` of a pivoted angular knuckle, one end of which is bifurcated to form a pair of hooked arms adapted to swing into and out of said recess, a cam-flange formed on one of said arms;' a rearwardly-swinging and vertically-sliding locking-dog pivoted in the recess and having its free end in locking relation to said arms, a'projection on the dog arranged in the path of the cam-liange and adapted to engage the same for elevating the dog, means for holding the dog out of operable relation with the knuckle and a fiexible connection between the dog and the knuckle for automatically resetting the former when the latter is opened.

9. In a coupler of the class described, the combination With a draw-head having a recess 4or chamber, the upper and lower walls of which are grooved or recessed, a pivoted' angular knuckle provided with oppositely-di'sposed lugs adapted to engage said grooves, a vertically-sliding lockingdogpivoted within IOO the recess and adapted to engage the knuckle.,

means Yfor releasing the locking-dog, and

means for opening the knuckle.

10. In a coupler of the class described, the combination with a draw-head having a recess or chamber, of a pivoted angular knuckle, provided with coincident notches or recesses, a vertically-'sliding dog pivoted in the recess and provided with a locking-lip vadapted to engage the notches in said knuckle, means for releasing and opening the knuckle and a pair of centering-springs mounted in housings, one on each side of the draw-head.

11. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combinationwith a draw-head having a recess or chamber Vprovided with strengtheningribs, a pivoted angular knuckle, one end of which is adapted to swing into and out of said recess, a locking-dog pivoted within the recess, a lock-set, a kicking device, an operating-lever having a roller-clevis secured thereto, and a flexible connection passing over the clevis and connecting the locking-dog and the kicking device.

12. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination with a draw-head having a re-` cess or chamber, a pivoted angular knuckle having its front portion solid and its bifurcated rear portion provided with alined openings and adapted to swing into and out of said recess,- there being a vertically-disposed opening formed in the draw-head adapted to receive a locking-pin for connecting the draW-.

pivoted to said iixed jaw and provided with.`

corresponding ears o r lugs adapted to engage the lugs thereon for limiting the outward movement of the'knuckle, said knuckle beingV provided with grooves or recesses adapted to receive the lugs on the fixed jaw for limiting the inward movement of said knuckle.

14. In a car-coupler of the class` described,

the combination with a draw-head having a recess or chamber, a pivoted angular knuckle provided with terminal coincident notches or recesses, a vertically-sliding dog pivoted within the chamber or recess and provided with a locking-lip adapted to engage the notches in the knuckle, eyelets yriveted to the knuckle and to locking-,lip of the dog, respectively, a iiexible connection between said eyelets, a socket formed in the locking-dog, a link seated within the-socket for operating the dog, and a pin or rivet passing through the socket and lengaging the link.

15. In a car-coupler ofthe class described, the combination with a draw-head having a recess or chamber provided with a verticallydisposed rib, ears or lugs on oneiof the iixed jaws, an angular knuckle pivoted to the drawhead and provided with corresponding ears or lugs for engagement with the lugs on the ixed jaw, said knuckle being provided with terminal hooks adapted to engage the rib when the knuckle is closed. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT AUGUSTUS MOSS.

. Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. WooDHEAD, CHARLES H. HARRISON. 

